Nurturing a sense of inclusion and diversity in our children is paramount as we navigate a world so diverse, digital and dispersed. As parents, educators, and mentors, we hold the responsibility to guide the next generation towards embracing differences and creating a more inclusive society.
One of the most practical and effective ways to achieve this is through diversifying the literature they read. By exposing children to books that reflect a wide range of cultures, experiences, and perspectives, we can help them understand and appreciate belonging, diversity, equity and inclusion.
This blog post explores the benefits of diversifying literature, some of our favorite books on BDEI for children and guiding questions to encourage critical thinking.
Benefits of diversifying literature
- Improved vocabulary, academic performance & zest for learning. Exposing children to diverse stories enhances their vocabulary and reading skills. This contributes to better academic performance as students develop critical thinking and cognitive abilities through varied texts. Engaging with diverse literature also promotes lifelong learning by sparking curiosity and encouraging a deeper understanding of different cultures and social issues (Shapiro, Anderson & Anderson, 1997).
- Cultural competence, better understanding of the world & reduced prejudice. Diverse literature enhances cultural competence, helping readers understand and interact effectively with people from different backgrounds. By introducing various cultural practices and perspectives, these books foster a broader worldview. Additionally, stories featuring different social groups can combat stereotypes and reduce prejudices, promoting a more accepting and understanding outlook (Vezzali, Stathi, & Giovannini, 2012; Cameron, Rutland, Hossain, & Petley, 2011).
- Empathy, social insight & mental well-being. Reading about characters from diverse backgrounds fosters empathy and social insight, allowing readers to experience the lives and emotions of others. This immersive experience helps build inclusive communities and reduces social divisions. Furthermore, diverse literature improves mental well-being by providing a sense of belonging and validation for readers who see themselves represented, and by offering therapeutic benefits through stories of overcoming challenges (Mar, Tackett & Moore, 2010; Adrian, Clemente, Villanueva, & Rieffe, 2005).
Some of our favorite books -
We have read these books in Dutch.
Getting into dialogue
Rising inclusionists mean modeling dialogue and encouraging critical thinking to ensure that children think deeply about the stories they read and apply the lessons to their own lives, fostering a greater understanding of belonging, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Below are some questions to guide your discussions (click on each topic tab to reveal the questions):
- How did the main character feel when they were included in a group?
- Was there a moment in the story when a character felt left out? How did that make them feel?
- Can you think of a time when you felt like you truly belonged somewhere? What made you feel that way?
- What actions did the characters take to make others feel welcome?
- How can we make sure everyone feels like they belong in our community/classroom/family?
- What different cultures, traditions, or perspectives did you learn about in this story?
- How did the characters’ diverse backgrounds influence their actions and decisions?
- What similarities and differences did you notice between the characters?
- Why is it important to learn about and respect different cultures and traditions?
- How do the diverse characters in the book make the story more interesting or richer?
- Did any of the characters face unfair treatment? How did that affect them?
- What challenges did the characters face, and how were those challenges addressed?
- How did the story show that some people need different kinds of support to succeed?
- What did you learn about fairness and justice from this story?
- How can we help make things more fair for everyone in our school/community?
- How did the characters include others who were different from them?
- Were there any characters who stood up for someone who was being excluded? How did they do it?
- What actions can we take to include others who might feel left out?
- How did the inclusive actions of the characters change the outcome of the story?
- What does it mean to be inclusive, and why is it important?
- Which character did you relate to the most and why?
- How did the story change your perspective on people who are different from you?
- What lessons about kindness and empathy did you learn from this book?
- Can you think of other books or stories that talk about similar themes?
- How can you apply what you learned from this story to your own life?
- What could the characters have done differently to be more inclusive?
- How do you think the story would have changed if the characters had not embraced diversity?
- What are some real-life examples of people working towards equity and inclusion?
- How can we support people who are fighting for justice and equity in our community?
- What can you do to make your school or neighborhood more inclusive and equitable?
In other words
Diversifying the literature that children read is a powerful tool for teaching equity. By exposing children to a wide range of cultures, experiences, and perspectives through books, we can help them understand the importance of fairness, justice, and the need to support marginalized communities. As parents and educators, we have the responsibility and the opportunity to guide the next generation towards a more inclusive and equitable society through the stories we share and the discussions we foster.
What now
So what now? What can you do differently? If you are interested in some quick micro-actions, here are some tips:
- Host a cultural storytelling night. Host a family or classroom storytelling night where children and adults share stories from their cultural backgrounds.
- Curate a diverse bookshelf. Include books by authors from different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds in your personal or classroom library.
- Promote diverse authors. Share and recommend books by diverse authors within your community and on social media.
- Engage in diverse reading programs. Participate in or support reading programs that focus on diverse literature.
- Discuss and reflect. Encourage discussions about the themes and perspectives presented in diverse books to deepen understanding and empathy.
By taking these small but meaningful steps, we can help create a more inclusive and empathetic world, one book at a time. Enjoy reading to children and learning together! #
References
- Adrian, J. E., Clemente, R. A., Villanueva, L., & Rieffe, C. (2005). Parent–child picture-book reading, mothers’ mental state language and children’s theory of mind. Journal of Child Language, 32(3), 673-686.
- Cameron, L., Rutland, A., Hossain, R., & Petley, R. (2011). When and why does extended contact work? The role of high quality direct contact and group norms in the development of positive ethnic intergroup attitudes amongst children. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 14(2), 193-206.
- Mar, R. A., Tackett, J. L., & Moore, C. (2010). Exposure to media and theory-of-mind development in preschoolers. Cognitive Development, 25(1), 69-78.
- Shapiro, J., Anderson, J., & Anderson, A. (1997). Diversity in parental storybook reading. Early Child Development and Care, 127(1), 47-58.
- Vezzali, L., Stathi, S., & Giovannini, D. (2012). Indirect contact through book reading: A field experiment. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 42(3), 580-598.
